National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah has sent shockwaves through the Ministry of Education after labeling PS Julius Bitok as “clueless” during the National Assembly Members’ Retreat in Naivasha on January 28, 2026. Ichung’wah’s scathing remarks come at a time when Kenyan parents are struggling with the chaotic transition to Grade 10 and the rising costs of school uniforms and lunch programs.
“You have the most clueless PS in the Ministry of Education. He only sits in Nairobi and has no idea what is happening on the ground. Get out of your offices, go to the ground, and deal with the problems there!”
1. The Teacher Deployment Scandal
Ichung’wah highlighted a glaring disparity in teacher distribution that many believe exposes the Ministry’s administrative failure.
The Imbalance: He cited instances where a school with only 100 students has 28 teachers, while a neighboring school with 600 students is left without a single teacher.
The “Ghost” Oversight: Despite having Sub-County and County Directors of Education, Ichung’wah argued that the lack of rationalization has left MPs to act as “de facto school inspectors”—a role that should be managed by the PS.
2. Uniform Cartels & The Lunch Program “Bedrock of Corruption”
One of the most relatable points of the attack was the issue of school uniforms. Ichung’wah accused the Ministry of allowing “cartels” to thrive by forcing parents into unnecessary and expensive uniform changes.
Presidential Intervention: Ichung’wah noted that it took a direct order from President William Ruto for schools to allow Grade 10 students to wear their old Junior Secondary (JSS) uniforms.
Arbitrary Lunch Fees: He questioned why schools in the same locality charge anywhere from Sh3,000 to Sh9,000 for lunch. He is now demanding that Education CS Migos Ogamba Gazette the maximum limit for these charges to protect parents from exploitation.
3. The Sh48 Billion Funding Stalemate
The Ministry of Education is currently pleading for an additional Sh48 billion to facilitate the Grade 10 transition. However, Ichung’wah has laid down a condition:
No Groundwork, No Money: The Majority Leader stated that before Parliament considers the budget, the PS must move out of Nairobi and show a tangible plan to fix the “clutter” in school management.
Equitable Distribution: He argued that the current model of equal fund sharing ignores the reality that some constituencies have 38 schools while others have over 70.
